Lap-robe.



No. 777,825. PATENTBD DB0. 2o, 1904.

` F. H. WILKES,

LAP ROBE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 23. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

lli/bring UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

LAP-ROBE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,825, dated December 20, 1904.

Application filed February 23, 1904. Serial No, 194,743.

lTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. VVILKES, of Medford, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lap-Robes, of which the following is a specification. y

The invention relates to lap-robes, and more especially to single robes, such as are used to protect the lower part ofthe person when riding in carriages, sleighs, or other conveyances.

The invention consists of various features in the construction of the robe which contribute to the comfort and convenience of the user and which will be fully explained in connection with the detailed description of the robe shown in the accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a single lap-robe provided with the various features of the invention in the forms in which I prefer to use them.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the robe. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 is a partial transverse section on line 3 3 of Fig. l.

The features of the invention may be embodied in robes formed of any suitable fabric or other material such as is commonly used in lap-robes, the character and weight of the fabric varying with'the conditions under which the robe is intended to be used.

In practicing my invention as shown in the drawings I provide the front piece A of the robe with two oppositely-arrangcd openings a, located in the upper part of the robe and at such a distance apart that either one or both hands of the user may be conveniently thrust through the openings when the robe is wrapped about the user. When the hand is thrust into an opening a, it is introduced into the space between the front piece A and the back piece B, where it is protected from the outside air or wind by the front piece A and is protected from any wind or current of air which may enter under the robe by the back piece B, the back and front pieces being secured together about their edges, as is usual in this type of robe. I prefer to oppositely incline the openings a, as indicated in Fig. 1, since with the openings thus arranged the arms of the user may occupy a more natural and comfortable position when the hands are thrust through the openings than would be the case if the openings were otherwise arranged.

As a further protection for the hands when thrust through the openings c I provide an interlining c' between the front and back pieces which extends from one opening' o to the other, and in case the front piece of the robe is not made from waterproofing material I prefer to use a waterproofing material for this interlining. I may also provide the interliningwith a downwardly-projecting pocket c2 for receiving and retaining any articles which may be introduced therein. In case an interlining is not employed this pocket may be formed by stitching together the front and back pieces on downwardly-converging lines extending from the lower ends of the opening a.

In order to prevent wind from blowing up the sleeves when the hand is introduced through the opening o, I provide the robe with wind-shields c, which are secured to the front piece A along the rear of the openings c and are also secured to the front piece along lines extending laterally below the lower ends of the openings a. When the hand is thrust into an opening c, the shield c covers the lower end of the sleeve and prevents the wind from blowing up the sleeve.

In case a poclIetis formed between the openings a I may provide devices for closing the openings a when the robe is not in use, so as to prevent any articles that have been placed in the pocket from dropping out during the handling of the robe when out of use. These devices I have shown as fasteners c', one part of which is carried by the wind-shield c and the other part of which is carried by the front piece A. I have also provided the robe with a foot-piece D, which extends across the back of the robe at its lower end. The foot-piece D is secured along its lower and two side edges to the back piece of the robe, but is unsecured along its upper edge. Vhen using the robe, the feet of the user may be introduced between the back piece B and the footpiece D, so that the feet and ankles are fully protected. This foot-piece also renders it unnecessary for the user to take the usual care in arranging the robe about the feet and also prevents the robe from being displaced or disarranged at its lower end.

I also provide thel robe with devices for holding it in position about the user after it has been once adjusted. The devices which I have employed for this purpose consist of two chains E, secured to one edge of the robe, and two hooks E,secured to the opposite edge. When the robe has been adjusted about the user, the proper links in the chains E are engaged with the hooks E, so that the robe is held snugly about the person and is retained in this position until the chains are disengaged from the hooks.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A lap-robe consisting of front and back pieces provided with oppositely arranged openings in the front piece through which the hands may be introduced between the front and back pieces and a downwardly-extending pocket formed between said openings, substantially as described.

2. A lap-robe consisting of front and back pieces provided with oppositely-inclined openings in the front piece through which the hands may be introduced between the i'ront and back pieces, a downwardly extending pocket formed between said openings, windshields overlying the openings and secured to the front piece along a line extending laterally outward below the openings, substantially as described.

pieces provided with oppositely arranged openings in the front piece through which the hands may be introduced between the front and back pieces. and wind-shields overlying the openings and secured to the front piece along a line extending laterally outward below the openings, substantially as described.

4. A lap-robe consisting of front and back pieces provided with oppositely-inclined openings in the front piece through which the hand may be introduced between the front and back pieces, and wind-shields overlying the openings and secured to the front piece along a line extending laterally outward below the openings, substantially as described.

5. A lap-robe provided with oppositely-arranged openings in the front piece, a waterprooil interlining extending from one opening to the other, and wind-shields secured to the front piece along a line extending laterally outward below the openings.

6. A lap-robe consisting of front and back pieces provided with oppositely-inclined openings in the front piece, a waterproof interlining between the openings and extending downwardly to form a pocket between said openings, wind-shields overlying the openings and secured to the front piece along a line extending laterally outward below the openings.

In testimony whereof I have ailixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

'FREDERICK H. VILKES.

-Witnessesz IRA L. FISH, KATHARINE A. DUGAN. 

